Who Do Ya Like? COTTO-FOREMAN

Yankee Stadium will host the “Stadium Slugfest”—a world title boxing match between World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight champion Yuri Foreman and three-time world champion Miguel Cotto—on Saturday, June 5, 2010, it was announced today in a press conference at Yankee Stadium. The announcement featured both fighters and their camps, Hall of Fame promoter and Chairman of Top Rank, Bob Arum, Melvina Lathan of the New York State Athletic Commission and HBO Sports Sr. Vice President Mark Taffet. Foreman vs. Cotto is promoted by Top Rank, in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions and Yankee Stadium. HBO World Championship Boxing will televise the fight live nationally at 10:15 p.m. ET / 7:15 p.m. PT.

"The original Yankee Stadium had a great tradition of boxing, and with this fight we begin a new tradition in our new home," said Lonn Trost, Yankees Chief Operating Officer. “Yankee Stadium will provide a great backdrop for what will definitely be a magical night for the sport of boxing, in what we hope is the first of many fights in our prestigious home.”

"The inaugural promotion at Yankee Stadium is perfect for this location,” said Bob Arum, Chairman of Top Rank. “It should be a great night of boxing and I believe this will lead to other great nights of boxing at Yankee Stadium."

Foreman (28-0, 8 KOs), a 29-year-old from Brooklyn, N.Y., is the first orthodox Jew to win a world championship in nearly seven years. Born in Gomel, Belarus, and raised in Israel, Foreman immigrated to Brooklyn. The 2001 New York Golden Gloves Champion turned pro in 2002 and began studying to become a rabbi three years ago. He knocked down defending champion Daniel Santos in the final round of a 12-round fight on November 4, 2009, en route to a decisive and unanimous decision victory and Israel’s first boxing world title.

"It is a great honor to have my first title defense at Yankee Stadium and join the names of such fighters as Benny Leonard, Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali, and to represent Israel and the Jewish people," Foreman said.

Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs), from Caguas, Puerto Rico, has held a world title every year since 2004 and will be looking to extend that streak with his challenge of Foreman. Puerto Rico’s most exciting fighter, Cotto held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight crown from 2004-06, successfully defending it six times before vacating it to capture the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title at the end of 2006, a title he held for nearly as long. He won his second welterweight title in February 2009, knocking out Michael Jennings in the fifth round of a 12-round fight to become the WBO welterweight champion. He lost the title in his second defense, on November 4, 2009, to Manny Pacquiao. Notable victories for Cotto include Sugar Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, Joshua Clottey, Paulie Malignaggi, and Demarcus Corley.

“I'm very excited to be fighting at Yankee Stadium and ready to make history in this legendary venue,” Cotto said. “I will become champion again in a third weight class. On June 5th, the fans will celebrate"

In the inaugural boxing match at Yankee Stadium, the boxing ring will be located in short right-centerfield with seating for fans located on the field as well as in the Yankee Stadium stands.

“June 5th is an awesome night for the sport of boxing,” said Kery Davis, senior vice president of programming at HBO Sports. “We are thrilled that the first-ever prizefight at Yankee Stadium will be televised live on HBO and we know that these two first-class performers will come into the ring completely prepared and ready to do what it takes to win. It will be a memorable night for the sport.”

The “Stadium Slugfest” marks the return of boxing to the Yankees’ home stadium for the first time since Muhammed Ali defeated Ken Norton by a 15-round decision on September 28, 1976, at the original Yankee Stadium. The former home of the Yankees hosted 46 nights of boxing matches, including 30 championship bouts, over its 86-year history.

Just over a month after the facility opened in 1923, the original Yankee Stadium hosted its first fight on May 12, 1923, as a benefit for the Ann Morgan’s Milk Fund. It featured a 15-round bout between Jess Willard and Floyd Johnson, with Willard scoring a technical knockout win. Two months later, the first championship fight night at the Stadium took place between Benny Leonard and Lew Tendler on July 24, 1923, with Leonard retaining his lightweight title with a 15-round decision against Tendler.

Yankee Stadium also played host to some of the most notable fights in boxing history, including Lou Louis’ knockout of Germany’s Max Schmeling in 1938; the first televised boxing match in the United States in 1939— featuring Lou Nova’s knockout win over Max Baer; and Sugar Ray Robinson’s collapse of heat exhaustion against Joey Maxim in 1952.

Today’s announcement comes exactly one month after Yankee Stadium unveiled the New Era Pinstripe Bowl to take place on December 30, 2010. Yankee Stadium will also host the Notre Dame-Army college football game on November 20, 2010, as well as a series of Army home football games vs. Rutgers in 2011, Air Force in 2012 and Boston College in 2014. In addition, NYU commencement was held at Yankee Stadium in May 2009, as well as a “Historic Night of Hope” with Joel and Victoria Osteen in April.

The original Yankee Stadium was also the home for scores of other sports, entertainment and cultural events, including boxing, professional football, soccer, political assemblies, three Papal masses, religious conventions, concerts, NYU commencement and the circus.

Tickets for the “Stadium Slugfest” Foreman-Cotto boxing fight will go on sale on Friday, April 16, 2010. More detailed information regarding the purchase of tickets will be released in the near future.

Media members wishing to attend the “Stadium Slugfest” Foreman-Cotto boxing fight on June 5 and any of the events in the week leading up the fight must submit their request via email to Langdon Flynn Communications at credentials@langdonflynn.com. Please note that any Yankees, BBWAA or MLB-issued credentials will NOT be accepted for any boxing events taking place at Yankee Stadium between June 1 and June 5, 2010.